A NEW restaurant in Bovey Tracey offers diners the opportunity to munch on fine food... surrounded by fine art.

After several years in the making, the long-held dream of opening the restaurant has finally come true for the team behind the Paradiso arts centre.

Set at the top of the town, the centre is based in the former Victorian King of Prussia pub and coaching house, parts of which date back to Tudor times.

The Paradiso has had a phased opening programme. Phase one was the opening of an intimate arts space which has staged regular exhibitions by local and nationally-acclaimed artists. The building’s first floor comprises studios available to hire.

After a special ‘soft opening’ for shareholders, the second phase, the new dining area, Cafe@Paradiso, officially opened last week. It’s temporarily housed in the exhibition space while construction work continues in the dining area proper, behind the pace, and which is scheduled to open later this year.

Once finished, it will give diners a grandstand view onto the kitchens where the culinary masterpieces are created.

The third and most ambitious phase is still some way off. That is the theatre and cinema space to the back of the building. That remains a vacant lot, but when finished will be a bijou setting for some 100 patrons to enjoy stand-up, poetry. drama and selected movies.

The Paradiso is a community-led not for profit company and funding for the final phase, in excess of £450k, is currently being sought.

Business was brisk in the cafe on Day One. Most table were taken and as weell as passing trade pre-bookings were looking good.

The new venture has provided a number of jobs for locals, revealed board member, Andrew Huckaby. He said there were seven waiting staff, working under restaurant manager Avril Smerdon, while in the heart of the kitchen three chefs were working under head chef Mark Newton.

Much of the kitchen equipment came from the nearby MAKE Southwest kitchens down the road. Mark and his catering team are creating culinary works of art for brunches, lunches and lighter snacks as well as an extensive evening menu – all made with locally-sourced ingredients where possible.

A spokesman said: ‘This exciting venture was created with the intention of bringing the community together with a variety of attractions, including artists studies, an art gallery, a cafe/restaurant, and ultimately a cinema/theatre, with the cafe/restaurant being an important latest step to completing the project.

‘It’s a welcoming space for everyone in the community, in the intimate setting in our Gallery space, with a relaxed atmosphere and surrounded by wonderful local art. Our Gallery space has already served the community as a hub for events, meetings, and workshops, we are proud to have created a space for individuals to come together and connect.’

‘We’re thrilled to be opening this next phase of our community-owned arts centre project,’ added David McGahey, chairman and volunteer director.

‘The Bovey Paradiso project has been made possible through hard work and dedication of our team of volunteer directors, community members and staff.

‘Through fundraising efforts, community share offers, and volunteer work, we have been able to bring this dream to life. We are proud to be a community-owned-and-run business and look forward to serving Bovey Tracey for years to come.’

The Cafe@Paradiso is open from 11am-10pm Wednesday to Saturday with last meal orders at 8pm, and Sunday 11am-4pm, with last orders at 2.30pm.